Best Dog Vacations West Coast – Looking for the best dog walks on the West Coast? As a dog mom who travels around California with her fluffy Munchkins, I’m here to give you some fun details about two of the best hikes in California that will brighten up your travel plans! Dog Friendly Road Trips in Northern California has information on the best dog stops, hikes, beaches, restaurants, lodging, and everything else you’re looking for when taking your dog on a road trip.
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Best Dog Vacations West Coast
If you’re a pet parent who’s into “dog travel” like me, then taking at least one dog-friendly trip in Northern California should be on your bucket list. We’ve been traveling around Northern California with Barb (our Tibetan Mastiff mix) for over a decade (we live in San Francisco) and we’ve been on several friendly road trips out of San Francisco, two of which are our favorites of so far. These dog-friendly tours in Northern California are a winner, as the attractions and restaurants welcome your best friend.
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Exploring the California coastal redwoods in the north and the famous 17-mile trail in the south (between Carmel and Monterey) is a great West Coast hike to do with your dog, especially in the winter. Here are details about dog-friendly attractions, places, and dog-friendly road trips on Northern California’s Pacific Coast.
P.S. I’ve tried my best to provide the most up-to-date information on dog-friendly accommodations based on my stay, but pet policies change frequently. Please call to confirm before booking.
1) Taking your dog on a road trip should be centered around their comfort! Traveling with a dog is not always easy, you can read this article for tips and advice on traveling with a pet! For us, make sure there’s enough room behind us for Barb to relax in his truck bed and provide food and water.
Make sure your dog is comfortable with car travel and try not to travel long distances (ours were 3-4 hours max). For longer walks, break it up into shorter 2-3 hour drives and hit dog-friendly parks/hikes/towns and restaurants to stretch your legs or grab a bite to eat.
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For the two road trips I’ve mentioned here, I recommend using Mendocino (read all about Mendocino attractions in this article) or Guernanville/Gualala (depending on where you’re starting from) North and Carmel. – The sea to the south. Both towns are dog-friendly and have many hotels and restaurants that welcome dogs, such as Carmel’s Pet-Friendly Hotels .
2) Northern California is foggy along the coast in summer, which confirms the concept of “It’s always sunny in California.” It can be cold and windy on the coast, so dress up and even bring a jacket for your friends!
3) Not all California beaches, trails, restaurants, and attractions are dog-friendly. You can save yourself the hassle and headache of finding a dog-friendly place here!
If you’ve never been in a car before or this is your first time traveling with your dog, you should be a little nervous. So, to help you get started, here are some helpful resources for planning your dog journey:
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The Shoreline (Highway 1), which begins in the north and stretches from Mendocino County to Somona County, not only offers stunning views of the California coast but is also home to some famous trees. Try to spend at least half a day on the road, including small towns worth visiting.
We had previously been to Mendocino and nearby Fort Bragg (a dog-friendly town with tons of hotels, restaurants, and attractions) on one of our Pacific Coast Road Trips for Dogs. Read our dog-friendly guide to Mendocino to learn about our favorite dog-friendly activities.
The first stop south from Mendocino is the 152-year-old Arenal Point Lighthouse, perched on the ocean and a mist on the South Coast. Admission to the lighthouse is $5 and provides access to the museum and gift shop inside the lighthouse, which is also a great spot for whale watching in California.
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Afterwards, Anchor Bay enters the town of Guala, the last point on the Redwood Coast in Mendocino County, and then into Somona County. Known for its bars, many dog-friendly rentals, and tourist attractions offering whale watching from December to March, Gualala is a dog-friendly town.
We explored the dog-friendly Gualala Trail, which is part of the Redwood Coast Reserve and starts the trail from the Surfside Motel (you can’t park there, you have to park on the street). The path is short, about half a mile long, with views of the sea and ocean, and heads west through the city’s business district.
If you want to have more fun with your dog, Gualala Point Provincial Park and Beach are just a short walk away, and you can read the details of our dog-friendly hikes in this post.
Stop by this secular church in Sea Ranch, just off Highway 1. The church was a generous gift from Sea Ranch residents Robert and Betty Buffum and was completed in 1985 by artist and designer James Hubbell Architecture. The church and its surroundings are open 365 days a year.
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Timber Cove is the second largest town on the Somona Coast. I recommend stopping for lunch at the dog-friendly Timber Cove Resort (Coast Restaurant) and then walking along the shore to enjoy the stunning ocean views.
Fort Ross State Park should be your next stop on Highway 1 to Jenner, where the Russian River empties into the Pacific Ocean. Adjacent to the Jenner Belvedere (where you can spot Pacific seals in the distance) and overlooking Gleason, the main attraction here is the unique Fort Rose State Park, a Russian-American town from the 1800s.
This is a rare dog-friendly park that allows dogs inside the original fortified building. Pay your day fee at the station and walk along the paved road to the walled complex, which includes several original buildings such as the church and the Rochev House. Dunross also has beautiful beaches and coastline to explore.
There are dog-friendly beaches and overlooks along Bodega Bay from Highway 1/Coastal Highway in Jenner to Senoma Coast State Park. Dog-friendly beaches include (from north to south) Russian Canyon State Beach, Dal Beach (south of Sealed Goat Rock Beach), Shell Beach, Furlong Canyon, Wright Beach, Duncan’s Landing View, Duncan’s Cove, Portugal Beach, School Beach, Carmet Beach, and Marshall Flowers.
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Keep in mind that many of these beaches are only accessible by foot from exits/parking lots along Highway 1. Dogs should always be rented. Remember to dress warmly as these beaches can be windy and cold, similar to those in Northern California.
Looking for a place where your dog can nibble while enjoying the beautiful view of where the Russian River meets the Pacific Ocean? Then grab some food or coffee and head out to the lawn at Aquatica Cafe to watch the kayaks go by or watch the sunset on the shore. We love this place and hope you enjoy a fun, pet-friendly trip along the California coast.
Bodega Bay is the last town on the Somona Coast and you can take the dog-friendly West Coast Highway on Highway 1. The town of Bodega, the hometown of Alfred Hitchcock
